Plan to airlift critically ill patients could substantially boost survival rates

A NEW plan to airlift critically ill patients from isolated parts of Clare for treatment in regional hospitals could substantially improve survival rates, a local accident and emergency consultant has revealed.

Government approval to expand the role for the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter could result in a new strategy to transport major trauma patients to 24-hour casualty departments in a fraction of the time it takes by road.

Discussions have been held between the HSE, the Irish Coast Guard Service and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) on the best way to utilise and co-ordinate existing resources.

While a number of outstanding issues remain to be resolved, progress has been made putting a new proposal in place to airlift acute trauma victims.

Dr Cathal O’Donnell, accident and emergency consultant in both the Mid-Western Regional Hospital and Ennis Hospital, said an advanced paramedic service would administer life-saving treatment to a major trauma patient at the scene and would then transport the person to an approved landing strip where the Irish Coast Guard helicopter would provide rapid access to an appropriate hospital once it had a helipad.

The casualty consultant pointed out once a number of outstanding issues were resolved, the new plan could be implemented by the end of the year.

The plan, it was emphasised, will not involve any large capital outlay or additional cost as it is believed the Irish Coast Guard Service has the capacity to fulfil an expanded role.

All of its existing crew are highly trained paramedics who have the same level of training as HSE paramedics and would be able to treat a critically ill patient being airlifted to hospital.

A new helipad facility was provided on the grounds of Limerick’s Mid-Western Regional Hospital last year and most of the regional hospitals have this facility — apart from Cork University Hospital, where patients have to be dropped off at Cork airport before they are transferred to the hospital.